Buckle for straps or belts.



H. H. SWANTON. BUCKLE FOR STRAPS 0R BELTS. APPLICATION FILED NOV-'39. \9l7.

Patented Nov. 19, 1918..

4 IIIIIIIIIIIIIII lm/ENTo B W W AT TO N Y 'WITED STATES PATENT FFI@E.

HAROLD H. SWANTON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE'ISLAND, ASSIGN'OR TO E. A. POTTER (30., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

BUCKLE FOR STRAPS OR BELTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

Application filed November 30, 1917. Serial No. 204,511.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD I-I. SWAN'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles for Straps or. Belts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to buckles for apparel-belts and consists of improvements in the construction and method of operation of the same. The object of my improvement is to provide a buckle with anti-friction rollers for the sides of the belt-strap, whereby the belt will slide more easily through the buckle, and whereof its edges will not become abraded, roughened or worn.

The method and means for carrying out the improvement are fully described in the following specification, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts.

In the drawings Figure l is a plan view of the back of the buckle showing it detached from the belt;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal, sectional view of the same, taken on the line XX of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a cross-sectional view taken on the line Z-Z of Fig. 2; and

Fig. i, a detail view in perspective of one of the rollers on which the side of the belt slides.

Referring to the drawings, my improved buckle is usually constructed of sheet-metal and comprises, essentially, the main frame or plate-member B and a clamping-means C for securing the free end of the belt-strap thereto. As shown in Fig. 1, the frame or member B is of rectangular shape embodying a front plate B with side-flanges b, b bent at right-angles thereto, see also Fig. 3. Usually the frame B is curved longitudinally, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to adapt it to fit snugly against the body of the wearer, and its front may be' ornamented with various designs etched, stamped or engraved thereon. At one end of the frame B is a bail D formed with a loop 05 through which one end of the belt-strap S may be inserted for securing it to the buckle. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the bail D is formed with pivots 2?, t inserted through holes in the side-flan es 6, b of the frame B to provide a hinge-like connection between the two elements; but if preferred the bail or loop-member might be made as a rigid, integral part of the frame.

Bent at right-angles to the sides I), b of the frame B, on the back of the buckle, are overlying side-strips or flanges Z), 6 connected at one end by a cross-member 6. Through this construction the frame B takes a box-like form, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, to adapt the free end of the beltstrap S to slide through the buckle between its sides. The means for securing the free end of the strap in adjusted position in the frame may be of any preferred arrangement, such as a hinged clamp or its equivalent. As here shown the clamping-means C consists of a fluted bar. or rod provided with trunnions c, 0 at its ends fitted to turn and slide in inclined slots 8, s in the sides 6, b of the frame B. The strap S, illustrated by dashlines in Fig. 2, is inserted through the framemember B between its sides 6, b and across the rod C. When it is drawn taut it will engage the rod C to cause the latter to slide in its slots 8, 3 toward the front plate B to wedge the strap thereagainst to clamp the strap thereto. It is to be understood, of course, that this form of clamping-means is already known in the art and forms no part of the present invention; moreover, it is not essential to the present improvement as other forms of holding-devices might be used in its stead.

The essential featureof my present improvement consists in the anti-friction guiderollers for the sides of the belt-strap as next described. As shown in Fig. 2, the rollers R, R are rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the buckle B at both of its ends. For this purpose suitable bearing-pins p, 79 extend between the front plate B and the sidestrips 6, b with their ends riveted through holes Or soldered in place therein. Mounted to turn on the pins p, p are the cylindrical rollers R, R, shown in detail in Fig. 4, which are preferably constructed from tubing cut to the length required. If preferred, however, the rollers might be made solid with trunnions or pivots at their ends fitted to turn in socket-bearings on the plate B and strips 5.

In practice, the belt-strap S slides through the buckle B with its edges guided by and bearing against the rollers R, R, as shown in Fig. 8. Through this arrangement I provide for a free, unrestricted movement of the strap While avoiding any tendency for it to sistance therefromor abrading action theree by. I-Ieretofore it has been found that with buckles of the present type the repeated, sliding action of the strap through the buckle tends to roughen and abrade its edges and mar its finish. In a short time the leather strap becomes worn and unsightly in appearance, tending to detract from the neatness of the whole apparel of the wearer. Vith my present improvement, continued use of the buckle will not mar or wear the strap, and furthermore the operation of the buckle is facilitated and rendered more convenient, thereby enhancing its value as an article of commerce.

Various modifications might be made in the form and structure of the parts of the device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; therefore, without limiting myself to the exact embodiment shown and described, what I claim I01 1. In a buckle for apparel-belts or other straps, the combination with a frame-member through which the strap slides,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for of opposite parallel rollers on the sides of the frame arranged with their axes at right-angles to the plane of the belt passing through the 2. In a buckle for straps or belts, the combination with a frame having front and back plates between which the strap slides, of opposite parallel rollers rotatably mounted between the front and back plates with their axes at right-angles thereto to adapt them to be engaged by the edges of the strap to guide its movement and ease it through the buckle while protecting it from abrasion and wear,

8. In a buckle for straps or belts, the combination with a frame having a front plate with side flanges bent at right-angles thereto and side-strips overlying the front plate on the back of the frame, of pivot-pins extending between the front plate and sidestrips at right-angles thereto, and rollers journaled on the pins to serve as anti-friction guides to bear against the longitudinal edges of the strap as the latter passes through the frame.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

, HAROLD II. SWANTON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

